Method and apparatus for automatic tracking and identification of device components

• US 7,722,521 B2
• Filed: 12/20/2004
• Issued: 05/25/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 12/20/2004
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Original Assignee: Varian Medical Systems Incorporated (Siemens AG)
• Inventors: Heath, Christopher
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, II; Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): DORNA, CARRIE R
• Application Number:
  US11/017,980
• Publication Number:
  US 20060135843A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,982 Days
• Field of Search: 600 1- 8, 600/103, 600/117, 600/118, 340/572.1, 340/572.8, 340/686.2, 340/686.4
• US Class Current: 600/7
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 2005/1008 Apparatus for temporary insertion of sources, e.g. afterloaders
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/1007 Arrangements or means for the introduction of sources into the body

Abstract

Embodiments of an apparatus and method to track and identify radioactive sources are described. In one embodiment, a device includes first housing for a radioactive source having a first electronic tag, a second housing for the radioactive source having a second electronic tag, and a guide tube that couples the first housing with the second housing. The guide tube includes a third electronic tag. The first, second, and third electronic tags communicate with each other to confirm automatically a delivery path for the radioactive source. In one embodiment, the electronic tags may be a radio frequency identification device (RFID).

Claims

1. A method, comprising:

coupling a first end of a first guide tube to a first housing for a first radioactive source and a second end of the first guide tube to a second housing for the first radioactive source to form a first coupling;

identifying the first coupling of the first guide tube to both of the first housing and the second housing with electronic tags disposed on the first guide tube, first housing, and second housing to communicate identification information, wherein the second housing comprises a first multi-channel radioactive source applicator, and wherein identifying further comprises signaling information related to a coupling of a first channel of the first multi-channel radioactive source applicator to the first guide tube, wherein the first housing comprises a multi-port afterloader, and wherein identifying further comprises signaling information related to a coupling of a first port of the multi-port afterloader to the first guide tube.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein tags disposed on three of the first guide tube, first housing, and second housing communicate identification information with each other.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the electronic tags comprise radio frequency identification devices, and wherein identifying further comprises relaying identification information from the electronic tag disposed on the second housing to the electronic tag disposed on the first housing through the electronic tag disposed on the first guide tube.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein identifying further comprises confirming a secure attachment of the first guide tube to the first housing and the second housing.

5. The method of claim 4, wherein identifying further comprises storing audit data on the radio frequency identification devices.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying comprises:

identifying the coupling of the first guide tube and the first and second housings as being incorrect for use as a radioactive source delivery path in a prescribed plan;

selecting the coupling of the first guide tube as the radioactive source delivery path for the prescribed plan after identifying the coupling as being incorrect for the prescribed plan; and

adjusting the prescribed plan to incorporate the selected coupling of the first guide tube as a correct radioactive source delivery path for the prescribed plan.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein identifying the coupling as being incorrect comprises determining attachment of the first guide tube to one or more incorrect ports on at least one port of the first and second housing.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising:

selecting the first radioactive source delivery path for the prescribed plan after identifying the coupling as being incorrect for the prescribed plan; and

adjusting the prescribed plan to incorporate the selected first delivery path as a correct delivery path for the prescribed plan.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein identifying the first coupling further comprises signaling to a controller of the first housing, information from an electronic tag disposed on the first guide tube.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein the information signal from the first guide tube confirms a secure attachment of the first guide tube to the first housing.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating identification information comprises communicating at least two of an applicator identification number, an applicator manufacture date, an applicator usage cycle, and an applicator sterilization period.

12. The method of claim 1, wherein communicating identification information comprises wireless communication.

13. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

identifying a second coupling of a second guide tube to both the multi-port afterloader and to a second multi-channel radioactive source applicator with electronic tags disposed on the second guide tube, the multi-port afterloader, and the second multi-channel radioactive source applicator to communicate identification information.

14. A method, comprising:

determining a first radioactive source delivery path comprising an afterloader, a first guide tube, and a first applicator;

coupling the afterloader having a first electronic identification tag to a first end of the first guide tube and a second end of the first guide tube to the applicator having a second electronic identification tag, the first guide tube having a third electronic identification tag, the first, second, and third identification tags being operable to communicate with each other to confirm the determined first radioactive source delivery path, wherein the afterloader comprises a plurality of ports, and wherein communicating further comprises identifying a first port coupled to the first end of the first guide tube, wherein the applicator comprises a plurality of channels to receive a radioactive source, and wherein communicating further comprises identifying a first channel coupled to the second end of the first guide tube.

15. The method of claim 14, wherein coupling further comprises confirming a secure attachment of the first guide tube to the first applicator and the afterloader.

16. The method of claim 15, wherein the first, second, and third electronic identification tags comprise a radio frequency identification device, and wherein coupling further comprises communicating a signal from the second electronic identification tag to the first electronic identification tag through a relay with the third electronic identification tag.

17. The method of claim 16, wherein communicating further comprises storing audit data on the radio frequency identification devices.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising receiving at a controller of the afterloader, a signal from the second electronic identification tag confirming that the first applicator is coupled to the first guide tube, and a signal from the third electronic identification tag confirming that the first guide tube is coupled to the afterloader.

19. The method of claim 14, wherein communicating further comprises identifying the first radioactive source delivery path as an incorrect path in a prescribed plan;

selecting the first radioactive source delivery path for the prescribed plan after identifying the coupling as being incorrect for the prescribed plan; and

adjusting the prescribed plan to incorporate the selected first delivery path as a correct delivery path for the prescribed plan.

20. The method of claim 14, wherein communicating with each other comprises wireless communication.

21. The method of claim 14, further comprising:

determining a second radioactive source delivery path comprising the afterloader, a second guide tube, and a second applicator;

coupling the afterloader having a fourth electronic identification tag to a first end of the second guide tube and a second end of the second guide tube to the second applicator having a fifth electronic identification tag, the second guide tube having a sixth electronic identification tag, the fourth, fifth, and sixth identification tags being operable to communicate with each other to confirm the determined second radioactive source delivery path.

22. The method of claim 21, further comprising:

receiving at a controller a signal from the fourth electronic identification tag confirming that the second applicator is coupled to the second guide tube, and a signal from the fifth electronic identification tag confirming that the second guide tube is coupled to the afterloader.

23. A method, comprising:

coupling a first end of a first guide tube to a first housing for a first radioactive source and a second end of the first guide tube to a second housing for the first radioactive source to form a first coupling;

identifying the first coupling of the first guide tube to both of the first housing and the second housing with electronic tags disposed on the first guide tube, first housing, and second housing to communicate identification information, wherein the second housing comprises a first multi-channel radioactive source container chamber, and wherein identifying further comprises signaling information related to a coupling of a first channel of the first multi-channel radioactive source container chamber to the first guide tube, wherein the first housing comprises a multi-port afterloader, and wherein identifying further comprises signaling information related to a coupling of a first port of the multi-port afterloader to the first guide tube; and

identifying a second coupling of a second guide tube to both the multi-port afterloader and to a second multi-channel radioactive source container chamber with electronic tags disposed on the second guide tube, the multi-port afterloader, and the second multi-channel radioactive source container chamber to communicate identification information.